Property & Casualty
Two-Minute Takeaway: Transportation | Q2 2025 Market Trends
Two-Minute Takeaway: Transportation | Q2 2025 Market Trends
Nationwide, auto liability for trucking continues to be a challenge. Accounts with 35% loss ratios and below are seeing +/- single-digit renewals, while more challenging risks anticipate increases in double digits, with limited markets available for placing coverage.
Driver Experience
When determining coverage qualifications, carriers are focused on driver experience. However, these restrictions typically come alongside lower rates. Unless a trucking company participates in an alternative risk program (captive, large deductible, qualifies self-insurer), a larger driver pool with less than two years of experience will see higher rates.
Commercial Auto
The combined ratio of commercial auto, measured by dollars paid compared to dollars earned, has exceeded 100% for 12 of the last 13 years, meaning the industry has been profitable only once in the past 13 years. While the combined ratio for 2024 has yet to be published, it will likely exceed 100%.
Rate Trends
Auto physical damage rates are gradually rising, driven by increasing technology and labor costs. Motor truck cargo remains fairly profitable across all carriers, depending on the commodities transported. For regular dry van/general freight commodities, cargo rates are competitive for low loss ratio risks.
Excess liability for trucking continues to be the most challenging risk, with delayed reporting and attempts to maintain adequate reserve settings. This line of coverage has maintained increases since 2020 due to nuclear verdicts, higher loss activity and increased reinsurance costs. In 2025, the E&S market will likely remain hard due to the mentioned factors and natural disasters.
Claims Trends
Social inflation and third-party litigation funding (TPLF) continue to impact claims outcomes. TPLF helps plaintiff attorneys fund cases for claimants seeking a payout following a truck accident. This has been an ongoing issue and is a driving factor in increased claim and insurance costs. The states feeling the brunt of the impacts include Florida, Illinois, Texas and Louisiana, as these states typically have high verdict payouts.
